Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
Open Access

Abstract

Global change and climate variability rely on proxy data from recent faunal content to monitor environmental change. Species diversity calculated from two regions at Kuwaiti Coast (Miskan Island and Al-Khiran area) allow estimation of the relative bleaching increase within-habitat of coral species associated with different types of faunal degradation. Beaches and Reefs at Kuwait and Gulf area subject to land-based pollution (sewage, sedimentation, and/or industrial pollution) show 40ΓΆΒ?Β?50% reduced diversity at 7 m, and 30ΓΆΒ?Β?60% reduced diversity at 10 m depth relative to unpolluted comparison reefs in each region. The decreased diversity on reefs subject to land-based pollution implies a dramatic, rapid decrease in Kuwait reef-based fisheries resources. Ostracoda (microscopic, aquatic Crustacea) and benthic foraminifera at the Kuwaiti islands have a great potential for ecological monitoring and environmental analyses in highly variable environments. The analysis of faunal assemblage (benthonic and ostracoda) composition, morphological features, diversity, and species distributions provide valuable information on present and past water salinity, temperature, substrate characteristics, climate, sea level variations, oxygen and nutrient availability. In this respect, this work will provide an overview on the application of benthic foraminifera and ostracods for environmental reconstruction.

Biography

Mona Ayesh Al-Salameen, graduated from Kuwait University with a bachelor degree in zoology; later completed her masters degree in zoology, (Temperature reaction of diurnal and nocturnal Tenebrionid beetles from Kuwait Desert). She finished her Phd in year 2000, in Micropaleontology, (Benthic foraminifera as indicators of pollution by heavy metal in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea). She worked as a assistant professor at science department and selected as the head of the science department; for four years. Now she is the vice dean of academic affairs. She’s researches are about foraminifera as environmental changes indicators and classification, which were for the Regional Organization of Protection Marine Environment.

Email: ma.alsalameen@paaet.edu.kw